Mining company walks away from Otways coal

Queensland-based Mantle Mining has surrendered to community pressure and announced it will abandon a brown coal exploration application for Victoria's pristine Otway Ranges. The company's chief executive surprised more than 250 residents at a public meeting when he said he would "walk away" from the project if a show of hands revealed they didn't support it.

It's a dilemma regional communities are facing around the nation; will the search for resources affect their local landscape and productive land?

Not often do residents take on the mining industry and win.

Locals attended a public meeting to ask questions and voice concerns about Mantle Mining's application for a permit to explore 500 square kilometres around Deans Marsh in the Otways.

Most thought it would be just the first step in a long battle ahead.

But in a surprising turn of events, Mantle Mining chief executive Ian Kraemer told the the crowd in the packed Deans Marsh Hall that he would withdraw the application if a show of hands revealed there wasn't support for it.

"I'm overwhelmed by the opposition and I have taken it on board and I will talk to my board and if a raise of hands shows me you're against it, I'll walk away," My Kraemer told residents.

After perplexed glances darted around the hall, almost everybody in the room raised their arm.

Community members began clapping and cheering.

Mr Kraemer says it was obvious there was no road forward in the area.

"One of the considerations we always take when we look at areas, we look at environmental, economic and social issues and obviously the social issue here has become obvious that there would be very little support for an exploration license."

Campaign organiser Seona Gunn says it was unexpected but branded it a win for the local environment, agriculture and tourism.

"I didn't expect this, I thought we would have at least a really good fight on our hands.

"In the future we can swing into action very quickly if any other mining company decides to look at the brown coal deposits in the area."

Fourth generation Deans Marsh beef producer Maryanne Stewart says it shows the strength of a community when it rallies together.

"We live in the most beautiful part of the world and I could just not see the sense in going anywhere down the path of coal mining.

"I think we knew we had to show that we had the numbers behind us."

Among politicians from all parties who attended the meeting to voice their opposition to the application, Greens Senator Richard Di Natale urged residents to send a clear message to their local members.

Mr Di Natale says the outcome was unprecedented.

"I must say it's the first time in my life as somebody who's campaigned long and hard on a number of issues that we've had a win in such a short space of time.

"Hopefully this will be a major turning point in environmental politics in this country."

Some community members were dubious about the mining executive's promise and urged others to still write formal letters of objection regarding the permit.

The meeting's most vocal resident, George Roufael says he doesn't believe the company will withdraw the application.

"I think everyone in this meeting today should write, put a stamp on it like it was suggested and post it, and email it so it's heard and not forgotten."

Mantle Mining CEO Ian Kraemer asked more than 250 people packed into the Deans Marsh Hall for a 'show of hands'. When almost every arm in the room shot up, he said "we will walk away".
(Margaret Burin - ABC Local)